It's Wairimu
Member
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) says it will require nearly Sh50 billion to conduct the 2022 general elections.
Speaking on Monday, IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati said the electoral body had prepared a Sh40.329 billion budget for the election but a further Sh588 million is required to acquire items useful in COVID-19 prevention protocols, including thermometer guns, sanitizers, soap, and washing points.
“This brings the total General Election requirement to Sh40.917 billion,” Chebukati said.
He indicated that the Treasury allocated a budget of Sh26.354 billion, with a deficit of Sh14.577 billion.
“It is worth noting that the Sh40.917 budget requirement is the bare minimum as per the electoral activities in the Election Operations Plan which are governed by the existing legal framework,” he added.
The Sh40.9 billion budget will make the 2022 election the most expensive in the country’s history.
The 2017 election cost the taxpayer Sh30 billion while the repeat presidential poll gobbled up Sh11.9 billion.
At the same time, Chebukati said public officers intending to run in the 2022 general elections have until February 9th, 2022 to resign from their positions.
"This is captured in Section 43.3 of the elections act which states that public officials who intend to vie in an election will resign six months before that election," Chebuati said